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Loss of E-cadherin promotes metastasis via multiple downstream transcriptional pathways.

Publication TypeJournal Article
AuthorsOnder, TT, Gupta PB, Mani SA, Yang J., Lander E. S., and Weinberg R. A.
AbstractLoss of the epithelial adhesion molecule E-cadherin is thought to enable metastasis by disrupting intercellular contacts-an early step in metastatic dissemination. To further investigate the molecular basis of this notion, we use two methods to inhibit E-cadherin function that distinguish between E-cadherin's cell-cell adhesion and intracellular signaling functions. Whereas the disruption of cell-cell contacts alone does not enable metastasis, the loss of E-cadherin protein does, through induction of an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, invasiveness, and anoikis resistance. We find the E-cadherin binding partner beta-catenin to be necessary, but not sufficient, for induction of these phenotypes. In addition, gene expression analysis shows that E-cadherin loss results in the induction of multiple transcription factors, at least one of which, Twist, is necessary for E-cadherin loss-induced metastasis. These findings indicate that E-cadherin loss in tumors contributes to metastatic dissemination by inducing wide-ranging transcriptional and functional changes.
Year of Publication2008
JournalCancer research
Volume68
Issue10
Pages3645-54
Date Published (YYYY/MM/DD)2008/05/15
ISSN Number0008-5472
DOI10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-2938
PubMedhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18483246?dopt=Abstract